THIS EPISODE WAS SO GREAT!!! IT'S HARD TO EVEN BEGIN!
Firstly, I want to mention the great subtle melancholy that Zoro showed. I hadn't noticed how perfect the art for him was in the Merry's farewell but it was so powerful. You can tell the sadness in his face, the sadness that was reflected back when he first learned she was on her last legs via Kaku. But it's not just sadness. It's respect, and gratitude, and acceptance. You hardly ever see Zoro look so complex. He's a straight forward guy, but in this one moment you can tell just how much emotion he's feeling from the single look on his face. The Merry was a friend to him. And to further him saying goodbye to friends, he had to say goodbye to his broken sword this episode too, the one that the merchant held close to his heart and gave Zoro. He had a nice goodbye to it as well, a one to one where he sat alone with it and just.. looked. "This bites" is a good way to put it. I loved him in this episode.
Overall this was a super nice cool down episode after all the tears fell last episode. We got to see probably the most in depth follow through of the world the arc took place in One Piece yet, Paulie and the shipwrights fixing the backstreets, Iceberg planning to make the island float, the giants and Usopp working alongside them. Luffy sleeping and Zoro getting lost. Everyone even had cute casual outfits to reflect the peace.
Speaking of Usopp and the giants, I cannot believe they asked him if he wanted to go to Elbaf with them! That's a dream come true for Usopp. Those giants are all he aspires to. Plus, there's still awkwardness with Luffy being asleep and Usopp not being with the rest of the crew. He definitely doesn't feel like he can join back with them after fighting with his very captain and friend like that... However, I strongly think we've seen Usopp both learn his own value doing what only he can do protecting his friends, and we've seen him learn to accept the loss of Merry which was really the straw that broke the camels back for him. He's a far stronger individual than the one who had a break down at the start of this arc, and he's accepted reality. I think he's ready to move on and help the Straw Hats again. He knows Luffy did what was right by challenging Usopp's selfish views and he loves his nakama. The only issue is climbing over the awkward wall of asking if he can join back again!
Franky is on the run too. The government is after him, he was a leader, they never called the Frankies or Shipwrights by names they called them the Straw Hat's pirates. Assuming Franky does join I guess this be a good reason to, so that the navy doesn't come attacking his home looking for him. And, he shows off what a great dude he is again by paying back the Straw Hats stolen money by making the strongest ship ever for them. Beautiful. Of course Franky would want to pay them back for all they did and show his gratitude, because they are what he wishes he could have been for Tom, he respects them so hard.
The first thing I thought when I saw they were still at Water 7 was that they should not be there! They're all wanted. Staying at the last known location that you were at is so dumb, that's the first place they'll check. I understand that they needed money for a ship and didn't have their log pose stored so it makes sense, sailing out without those things on some throwaway ship one of their new friends gave them may be a death wish. This is a hard position to be in, especially with Luffy after murdering himself against Lucci. So, when Garp arrived I had no shock to show, it was due process.
Lastly, GARP IS LUFFY's GRANDPA! Ever since the Aokiji confrontation I wondered about who it would be. Aokiji mentioned that he knew Luffy's Grandpa and even back then that made Luffy sweat. I bet they have a rocky relationship, and it now makes sense that Aokiji would know Garp! Of course he'd know Luffy's grandpa, he's an admiral too!
P.S. I saw a pink and blonde guy behind him, and he's here for people to meet Luffy? All bets on that being Helmeppo and Coby, something planned from so long ago and I am ecstatic!!!!
Francosius said:It looks like nobody noticed Michael and Hoichael from the backstreets
Lulu and Tilestone would be disappointed
LOL I LAUGHED SO HARD WHEN I SAW THE SHIRTS! These were the bad boys the shipwrights thought were the assassins!!! |